t I had done to offend you," said Evan.

She laughed, but it had not a mirthful sound. "How funny you are!
Strangers don't quarrel. They've nothing to quarrel about!"

"But you are angry."

"Nonsense!" she said languidly. "I'm very much obliged to you for your
help. But there's nothing else you can do."

"Meaning I'd better beat it."

She was magnificently silent.

"I'm going. But it's hard to go, not knowing what's the matter."

She had the air of one dealing with a trying child. "How often must I
tell you that there's nothing in the world the matter?"

"You are not the same as you were when I came."

For some reason this flicked her on the raw. She flushed. She stamped
her foot. "You're--you're impossible!" she cried. "_Will_ you go!"

As Evan backed out she all but shut the door in his face. How
astonished would he have been could he have seen through the door how
she flung herself face down on the sofa and wept. That was the softer
girlish part of her. But not for long. She sat up and digging her
chin into her palm thought long and hard. That was the warrior.

"I will not give in to him--and spoil everything," she whispered. "I
will not!"

Meanwhile, out in the dark hall Evan was leaning against the banisters
trying to puzzle out what had happened. At first only a blank dismay
faced him. Women were inexplicable. But presently a slow smile began
to spread across his face. He said to himself:

"Well, whatever it is, she's not exactly indifferent to me. I've made
an impression. That's something for the first meeting. And she's in
the house. And to-morrow's another night!"

He went up-stairs with a better heart.

He went straight to his window-sill and cooled his hot cheeks in the
night air. The old trees still stood sentry duty in the moonlight, the
people sat still as dolls left out all night, the noises of the town
were reduced to a pleasant murmur.

"God! what a good old world it is!" thought Evan, unconscious of his
perfect inconsistency. "How good it is to be young and alive; to see;
to feel; to laugh; to love; to know things! I guess I'm a little drunk
on it now, but I want more, more! I shall never have my fill!"

As he lay in bed it suddenly occurred to him that he was head over
heels in love with a woman whose name he did not know.

CHAPTER V

THE HAPPY LITTLE FAMILY

At the Deaves mansion next morning it was Alfred who opened the massive
steel grill t